The 1929 Bahamas Hurricane (also known as the Great Andros Island Hurricane) was the second hurricane and the only major hurricane during the very inactive
1929 Atlantic hurricane season. The hurricane was the only hurricane to cause any significant damage, resulting in $676,000 (1929
USD, $7.3 million 2005 USD) in damage. Only a year after the
1928 Okeechobee hurricane, the hurricane caused only three deaths in southern Florida, a low number due to well-executed
warnings.[3] The hurricane was much more severe in the Bahamas, where damage was near extreme due to the hurricane stalling over the area for an extended period of time. There, the hurricane caused 48 deaths.

Meteorological history

A
tropical wave moved off the coast of
Africa on September 11. It moved across the
Atlantic Ocean and passed the northern
Leeward Islands before being detected as a
tropical storm on the 22nd.[4] The storm then moved westward and became a
Category 1 hurricane on September 23. It continued to intensify, becoming a
Category 3 hurricane on September 24 as it passed through the northern
Bahamas. Due to higher pressures to the north,[2] the hurricane drifted to the southwest, causing the hurricane to strike near
Nassau on the 26th as it reached its peak of 155 mph (249 km/h).[5]

While drifting westward through the Bahamas, the hurricane weakened, and struck extreme southern
Florida as a
Category 3 hurricane on September 28.[6] The hurricane turned to the northwest, and continued to weaken until making landfall in the
Florida Panhandle as a tropical storm on the September 30. The storm turned to the northeast, and became
extratropical over
South Carolina on October 2. The extratropical storm persisted for two more days, moving through the eastern United States before losing its identity over eastern
New Brunswick.[5]

Impact

Although a strong tropical cyclone, the hurricane caused little damage and only three deaths in
Florida, a sharp contrast to the Okeechobee Hurricane a year earlier; by contrast, however, damage was very severe in the
Bahamas. In
Cuba, the hurricane brought rough seas and dark cloud cover.[8]

Bahamas

A weather station in
Nassau recorded an unofficial pressure reading of 938
mbar
(27.64 inHg).[4] The weather station also recorded a wind gust of 164 mph (264 km/h).[9] According to the
Associated Press, the hurricane's 12 feet (3.7 meters) storm surge flooded a road and damaged a seawall, while property damage was severe. In
Fresh Creek, the hurricane destroyed six houses and damaged ten others. It also damaged a communications station, disrupting telegraph service. Ten deaths were reported on
Andros Island, and according to press reports, 24 people were declared missing. Elsewhere in the Bahamas, the hurricane damaged or destroyed 63 homes and buildings brought
flash flooding that left
Andros Island under 20 feet (6.1 meters) of water.[4][10] Offshore, a steamship was run aground near
Abaco Island, while a tanker broke in two near Andros Island. Eight sailors perished when their 18-foot schooner sank during the storm.[4] In
Fresh Creek, four small boats sank near the
Andros Lighthouse, drowning more than 20 sailors.[1]
Lord Baden-Powell arrived in the Bahamas at the Prince George Wharf in February 1930. On that occasion, Gordon O'Brien was presented with the Bronze Cross (the highest award for gallantry in Scouting) for his part in rescuing twelve women and children from a ship in distress during the hurricane of September, 1929.[11]

Florida

September 23–28, 1929 rainfall in the United States

A 150 mph (240 km/h) wind gust was recorded near
Key Largo and a barometric pressure reading of 989
mbar (29.21 inHg) was recorded in
Key West, and a reading of 954
mbar (28.18 inHg) was recorded at
Long Key. Storm surges estimated at 6 to 9 feet at Garden Cove. Railroad service out for a week. Sections of the overseas highway were washed out as far as Big Pine Key. The Coast Guard had to provide mail service for Key West. [12] Exact damage figures in the
Florida Keys are unavailable.[4]

In
Miami, a reading of 998
mbar (29.41 inHg) reading was recorded as the hurricane made landfall, and wind speeds between 90 and 100 mph (140 and 160 km/h) were recorded in
Everglades City. The hurricane spawned three tornadoes that touched down in
Fort Lauderdale,
Miami, and two other towns, with the Fort Lauderdale tornado being most destructive. The tornado damaged a four-story hotel, a railway office building and several cottages before dissipating 30 minutes after its formation. In southwestern Florida, there was damage to orange and grapefruit crops. Three people were killed after ignoring warnings and trying to ride out the storm.[4]

Damage in the
Florida Panhandle was moderate. The
storm surge destroyed several wharves and damaged most of the oyster and fishing warehouses and canning plants. The storm tide also damaged part of the
Gulf Coast Highway, and left minimal damage to trees, homes and businesses. Throughout Florida, the hurricane caused 3 deaths and $676,000 in damage.[4]

Eastern U.S.

A weather station in
Georgia reported a barometric pressure reading of 29.12 inches of mercury (986 mb). However, there were few reports of damage and no reports of deaths when the extratropical remnants of the hurricane traveled up the
East Coast of the United States.[4] In
Maine, heavy rains up to 2 inches (51 mm) flooded storm cellars and broke a prolonged dry spell in the state, though damage was minimal.[13]

Aftermath

In the
Bahamas, the hurricane destroyed the Ministry of Education mansion in
Nassau which was shortly rebuilt after the storm.[14] Offshore, the wreckage of a steamship that sank during the storm was blown up because it was a hazard to shipping. In
Florida, the damage from the hurricane knocked out rail service for a week. The
United States Coast Guard provided mail service to
Key West, an area hit hard by the hurricane.[15]

In popular culture

The tragic impact of the hurricane on the Bahamas was immortalized by the influential calypso singer
"Blind Blake" Higgs in his often-covered folk ballad "Run, Come See, Jerusalem."